Multi-Spectral Sensors

Multi-Spectral Sensors

The following prototypes have been developed under a Phase III Small Business Innovation Program (SBIR) contract administered by the Naval Air Systems Command. The basis of this contract was a SBIR Phase II effort sponsored by PMA-272.

Micro-Lens Sensor

The Micro-Lens sensor concept represents the next generation technology for missile threat warning, tracking, identification, and countermeasures selection. This system will increase the survivability and lethality of US Military airborne assets by providing rapid identification to multiple threats, including MANPADS other sources of hostile fire. Additionally, the use of commercial-off-the-shelf focal plane arrays will provide an exponential reduction in the manufacturing costs of IR Threat Warning Systems.

The hardware developed on the Phase III SBIR contract is a four color (2 SWIR/2 MWIR) integrated into a refrigeration unit and equipped with spectral-temporal algorithms for false alarm rejection and high probability of detection. This Mirco-Lens system is equipped with an integral processor designed to run the algorithms on the data acquired by the optical system. This system provides near real time missile threat warning and hostile fire identification. The unit and lens are shown below.

Multi Function Threat Detector (MFTD)

The MFTD provides real-time or near real-time tactical/strategic missile threat warning (MTW), laser threat warning (LTW), and hostile fire indication (HFI). The primary technology development is a new optical detector package that can provide MTW, LTW, and/or HFI functions using a single camera as a spectral imager. By combining a small optical element with existing camera technology, a spectral imager with multiple functions is created in the same volume occupied by existing military detector or detector arrays.

The MFTD technology represents the next generation capability for hostile fire indication, missile threat warning, tracking, identification, and countermeasures selection. The MFTD sensor has been integrated into an existing Missile Warning System (MSW) to enhance the overall performance and increase aircraft survivability.

Cross Dispersion Prism (CDP)
The primary objective of this device is to provide a hyper spectral collection sensor as well as a tracking sensor (used in conjunction with the MicroLens) in the MWIR using, CDP technology. This was accomplished by incorporating a CDP sensor into a refrigeration unit and incorporating spectral-temporal algorithms for false alarm rejection and high probability of detection by means of an integrated processor.